Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The List by Yomi Adegoke

6 reviews

virgcole398's review against another edition

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laurataylor's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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k_kay's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I really wanted to like this book, the premise sounds very interesting, but I struggled with the way a number of sensitive topics were handled in the book.
It felt like the author wanted to explore the fragility of internet fame and how fickle it can be when considering cancel culture, rape culture, incels, toxic workplace, our image/ how we are perceived and who we really are, but it was too much to explore.
I liked the cultural references, 
but it felt like there was a lot of telling over showing. 

We’re told that Ola and Micheal are in love, but from the moment we’re introduced to them it’s hard to understand why. We keep being told how much they love each other, but there’s nothing to show us this which made it difficult to empathise with Ola when the list goes viral.  The book also does not explain how they are influencers, the description given felt more like they posted a pic and that went viral once and then you never here about their influence other than we are told once more. The friendships with Ola and her friends does this better, we can see their dynamic but the author then goes in to spell it out which just takes up words and pages unnecessarily. Likewise there is a lot of description of clothes and jewellery which felt like filler.
Micheal is not a likeable character and it’s difficult to empathise with him
even when he is  suicidal after Ola breaks up with him - it’s is a very common thing abusers do so I was over that dude in the first few pages

I also didn’t care to know the thoughts of an accused abuser and all the incel chat, it’s everywhere these days. 

The book was overall very predictable, times when Ola thought she didn’t know what she was going to do, but I felt like I did 🙄 
 The pace is jarring as we cut between Ola and Micheal’s perspectives at the most pressing moments.
The twist also felt unwarranted, I get what the author was going for, it just really didn’t work for me.

Really consider the triggers on this one as it comes off more of an apologists or liberal take, (I don’t think that was the authors intention) probably because there was just too little said on soooo many deep topics. 

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janefinch's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I didn't enjoy this book. It was a horrible topic and the main characters coped with it so badly I found it hard to finish. I read it for a book club, otherwise wouldn't have continued past the first chapter.

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iamcaseyrkelley's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Wow. I did not see that coming. I was hooked from the beginning with so many questions. Did he do it? If he’s innocent, who is doing this? Why? it made me just want to read more and find the answers.

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emilyky's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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